Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-25
FRIDAY MORNING. MAR. Is. 1887


We have suggestion to make to the
legislature of Virginia. Take the debt
question out of party politics, and take
the creditors al their world Gov. Lee
has recommended commission to confer
with the creditors. Its mission as he
sets 1t forth, will, it goes without saying,
be an idle one. The creditors don't want
any commission to tell them how poor
Virginia is, or how tough the job of getting
money out of her is now, or can be made
in the future. They want settlement
and they have suggested one. Mr.. Royal
says the creditors propose to allow Virgin
ia all the money needed for running her
government and schools, and they will take
what is left at the present rate of taxation.
Very good. Let the legislature elect a
commission composed of three representa-
tive Democrats and two representative Re.
publicans, from their body. Or mako 1T
of Democrats and Republicans equally
put politics out of sight in it and bring
business to the front. Then let the cred
itors say to this commission authoritatively
what they will do. They say they will
take what is left; let's see if they are in
earnest. If they are not, then let the peo-
pie know it, and let the fight go on
Virginia wants nothing more than the
proposition they have made: the State is
not after making anything on this trade.
All it asks is to be allowed to live, and after
that the creditors may have the rest. Let
the creditors know from the composition
of the commission that they are dealing
with both parties of the State.
II Royal really represents the creditors,
then the settlement can be made now
And now is the critically important time
to makeit. No interest is being paid on the
debt and surplus in the Treasury is the
result. All know what the effect of sur
plus is, and if they don't they need only
look at the excess Of State expenditures
now. over those estimated for her in the
campaign over the Mccullough bill, and
they can get the information. If we 20
on with surplus while longer there
will be nothing left over for anybody. AL
ready at this extra session, bills to get away
with the money are before the legislature
the latest being proposition to increase
the pay Of circuit judges. How many
more will be introduced before the session
is over?
The debt string has come to point of
tension when it won It bear the weight of
political party astride of it. Let the
legislature shove politics out of it, come
down to business, and see if the creditors
are in earnest. A settlement is what the
people of the State want. The Democrats
may repudiate the whole debt, the Repub-
licans may assume the whole, or vice versa
and there will yet be no settlement and no
peace. The Supreme Court of the United
States will not permit it to be repudiated,
and the people of Virginia will not permit
it to be paid if it increases taxation. Be-
tween the two, stand the creditors with
an alleged proposition. Send some one
over the line to meet them and let's see
what is in it. If they are in earnest. lets
take it; If they are not, then we can't lose
anything. This commission of both polit-
ical parties can tell their people of the State
just how it stands-that the creditors
really want to settle, Or that they
want increased taxation, receivable cou,
pons, and the same old 1871 machinery
Then the people will know what they
:. AVE to expect and what they are fighting
7. and 6hey will tight it out to the. last
4Aeroint q mixed Ssasanmissis 81 tgeat
with the creditors on the leftover
basis and do it quickly. If it is Royall
bubble let it be pricked promptly; if other
wise, let it be accepted. Put the onus on
the creditors. And in the mean time
actively prepare by proper legislation for
their refusal.
Since writing the above, we received the
folio wing telegram from Richmond last
night.
RICHMOND, Mar. "a, P. Meow.
Lee to-day received, and sent to the leg
islature, the following cable telegram:
London, Eaaq., Mar. "a.
To Gov. Lee,
Richmond, "a:
The Bondholders Com
mlttee will appoint a Commission to 90 to
Virginia to confer with representatives of
the State for the settlement of the debt,
on receiving your assurance that the basis
of any agreement which may be arrived
at shall be the available revenue as mu-
tually agreed upon after competetent and
independent investigation.
If the Legislature will empower the
Government to consent to this basis of
compromise, shall be glad of your in
timation accordingly by cable
BEAUVERIE,
- Chairman.
A caucus of the Democratic members of
the legislature is being held tonight on